held up, headway when not fluent 7th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace to chase winner flat, always held
in rear, blundered 4th, went 2nd 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, not fluent when led last, kept on well
held up in touch, chased clear leader from 2nd, lost place approaching 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, switched left approaching last, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, ridden after 5 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off
led, soon clear until ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, soon weakened
A contest worthy of carrying the name of one of the great trainers of his time, Neville Crump, and a man who had more than his share of winners at the track and Basic Fact is taken to score, while Bestofthebrownies can go well and Raffles is interesting. Basic Fact has gone close on all of his last three starts, including when beaten a half length by Bestofthebrownies at Sedgefield last month. He is 2lb better off here but perhaps more importantly he looks likely to be better suited by the drop back to two miles than Howard Johnson's runner and so gets the vote. Raffles makes his British debut and his French form looks pretty good. He has not run since the summer of last year, however, and having switched to Brian Rothwell from Guillaume Macaire he looks best watched on this return run. Eborarry is not totally ruled out from a yard always respected here, but he needs the handicapper to relent, and preference is for Basic Fact.
Bestofthebrownies (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-9) Hit 14th, always behind, 10th of 12, 36l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Ormello (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Always behind, tailed off 7th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Captain Marlon (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Raffles (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 5, 2l behind Super Solo (10-5) at La Teste De Buch 2m 2f 4yo hdl in Jul '06.
Eborarry (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up, ridden 4 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 31l behind Spring Margot (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Basic Fact (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Held up, blundered 10th, going well 3 out, hit 2 out, blundered last, hard ridden flat, just failed, 2nd of 5, hd behind Terrible Tenant (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Dalriath 80-1 (9-9) Mistakes, soon well behind, last of 5, 45l behind Kalca Mome (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) sft.
